Weekend Crime Roundup: Woman attacked with drill in Tyrone

Our Weekend Crime roundup looks at some recent incidents which occurred over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

‘Hate Crime’ in Belfast

An East Belfast Councillor David Armitage has condemned those behind racist graffiti in the area.

It is understood that a number of windows were broken in houses under construction and graffiti was also sprayed on one of the houses which are currently unoccupied at Woodlee Court off the Castlereagh Road.

Alliance Councillor Armitage said there is ‘no justification whatsoever’ for this vandalism or similar incidents we have seen nearby in previous months.

“We can have no tolerance in our society for such blatant racist views,” he said.

“Enough is enough – I appeal directly to those behind this graffiti and others to stop what they’re doing. I ask to all who have influence to use it to make sure this is the last occurrence we see. East Belfast is a welcoming community where such intimidation is out of step with the majority of people here and where the population deplore this type of behaviour”.

The councillor said he has informed the police about this graffiti and asked Belfast City Council to remove it ‘as soon as possible’.

Burglary at Richardstown, Co Kildare 6th May
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after a number of shotguns were taken from an armoury at a premises in Clane, Co Kildare in the early hours of Sunday 6th May.

Seizure of Illicit Pill making factory, Celbridge

Three men were arrested after they were caught in the act of making illegal pills in Co Kildare on 06 May.
Officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau supported by the Special Crime Task Force discovered equipment including blenders and an industrial pill making machine at the residence in Celbridge.

Gardaí said that controlled drugs ‘in powder and pill form with a provisional estimated street value of €500,000’ was also seized.

Injured man Rathfarnham
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after a man was believed to have fallen on Firhouse Road in Dublin on 5th May.

The man in his 30s was discovered by a passer-by at 8.15pm and was taken to Tallaght Hospital where he was described by Gardaí as being ‘in a serious condition’.

Gardaí are seeking witnesses to the incident.

€110,000 Cannabis seizure, Marino, Dublin 3 5th May

A man in his 20s was arrested following the discovery of 137 Cannabis plants, with an estimated value of €110,000 at a house on Brian Road, Marino, Dublin 3, on Saturday 5th May.

A 17 year old was being questioned by PSNI detectives after a woman was attacked with a cordless drill in Strabane, Co Tyrone, in the early hours of Saturday 5 May.

According to police, the 38 year old victim sustained ‘a very serious head injury’ and was taken to hospital where her condition was described as ‘critical but stable’.

Detective Sergeant Brian Reid said it was a ‘brutal attack’ and the injuries sustained by the victim are ‘extremely grave’.

“We are exploring a possible homophobic motive for the crime and we are appealing for witnesses to get in touch with us. We would like to hear from anyone who may have seen a male carrying a drill in the area at around the time of the assault and we would especially like to speak to anyone who may have captured footage, either on mobile phone or dashcam. Anyone with such footage or any other information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact police in Strabane on 101, quoting reference number 153 05/05/18.”

-PSNI

‘Shock’

Alliance West Tyrone representative Stephen Donnelly condemned the attack, which has ‘shocked the entire community in Strabane and further afield’. Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle said people are ‘absolutely numb’ with shock at the ‘horrific nature’ of this attack perpetrated against this woman and ‘the thoughts of everyone are with the victim and her family at this time’.

Death in Balbriggan

Gardaí said they were investigating the sudden death of a woman discovered at a house in Tara Court, Balbriggan at about 8.30pm on Friday 04 May.

Gardaí said post-morten results will determine the course of the investigation.

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